Heat sunk in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE, WI -- The Abbotsford Heat lost 3-1 to the Milwaukee Admirals (AHL affiliate of the Nashville Predators) at the BMO Harris Bradley Centre on Sunday afternoon.

Tyler Ruegsegger’s sixth goal of the season put the Heat ahead in the first period, but the Admirals scored once in the second period and twice in the third for the 3-1 victory. Milwaukee scored an empty net goal in the final minute to split the four-game season series with the home team winning every game.

The Heat erased 65 seconds of five-on-three play for the Admirals in the first six minutes of play before Ruegsegger opened the scoring at the 16:47 mark of the first period. Ruegsegger’s sixth goal of the season was set up by Drew MacKenzie and Greg Nemisz. The Heat led 1-0 after the first period.

The Admirals made it 1-1 at 2:08 of the second period with Kevin Henderson’s twelfth goal of the season. The game went to the third period tied at one.

The Admirals scored at 8:02 of the third to take their first lead of the game and iced the game with an empty netter with just 56 seconds remaining.

Barry Brust started for the sixth time in the last seven games and made 17 saves on 19 shots. The Heat outshot the Admirals 24-20 in the loss.

The Heat power play finished without a goal in six opportunities. Abbotsford’s penalty kill erased a pair Admirals man advantages.

The Heat’s five-game, twelve-day road trip finishes on Wednesday against the Chicago Wolves at Allstate Arena in Rosemount, IL.